Holding device for logs, particularly propeller logs



March 36, 1965 R. KOCK 3,175,39fi' HOLDING DEVICE FOR LOGS, PARTICULARLY PROPELLER LOGS Filed Oct. 2, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l L INVENTOR RUNE KOCK ATTORNEY March so, 1965 R. KQCK 3,175,396

HOLDING DEVICE FOR LOGS, PARTICULARLY PROPELLER LOGS Filed 00$. 2, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Add 3 FIG. 9. 7 FIG. IO.

I5 ill L 2o I9 l 21 FIG. Z

5 'I Q 4 I3 1; g f: p mvsmon 9 RUNE KOCK ATTORNEY.

United States Patent Ofihce 3,175,396 Patented Mar. 30, 1965 3,175,396 HOLDING DEVICE F03 LOGS, PARTICULARLY PROPELLER LOGS Rune Kock, Stockholm, Sweden, assignor to Vdo Tachometer Werke Adolf Schindiing G.ni.b.H., Frankfurt am Main, Germany, a corporation or Germany Filed Oct. 2, 1961, Ser. No. 142,065 Claims priority, application Sweden, Oct. 7, 1960, 9,577/ 60 7 Claims. (Cl. 73-187) The present invention relates to a holding device for a log, particularly a propeller-log for boats, which comprises an arm or carrier supporting the log and pivotally connected with a bracket secured to the body of the boat.

The parts of the log which extend below the water level can easily be damaged by objects floating in the water or by obstacles projecting from the water ground. In the same manner snail and plant growth, as well as the corrosion by salt water and the soiling in ports by oil or the like can bring about damage to the underwater portions of the log.

It has been proposed already, therefore, to provide a pivot connection of the under-water portion of the logcarrier with the holding means which are rigidly secured to the boat, so that this portion can move upwardly, to avoid engagement with such obstacle.

It is also known to secure the log by means of a screw or any other suitable connection to the body of the boat, in order to avoid any growth and soiling thereon, in order to provide the possibility to disassemble easily the log after use or for cleaning purposes.

These known structures have the drawback, that the portion of the log extending below the water level, particularly the carrier for a log-propeller, can be removed only together with the entire log measuring device and only upon releasing the relatively stable securing means, can the log be taken out of the water.

It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a holding-device for logs, particularly propellerlogs, which extends below the water level and which permits the removal and the insertion, respectively, of the log-carrier at all times by means of a single manual step. Such fast releasable connection is particularly desirable for boat races, in order to insert the log into water for a short time only and to remove it then again speedily, and, thereby, to avoid thus the small, yet, in a boat race, still appreciable water resistance.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a holding-device for logs, particularly propeller-logs, including a log-carrier pivotally connected with a bracket, the latter being secured to the body of the boat and in which the log-carrier is removably connected with the bracket by means of mountings adjustable relative to each other and the mountings are designed in such manner that, at least in one position, a rigid, non-releasable lock ing connection and, in another position, an easily releasable connection, which, however, retains still the log carrier in the bracket, is brought about, without requiring additional measures.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a holding-device for logs, particularly propeller-logs, in whichthe log-carrier comprises a bearing portion for the log, particularly for a log-propeller, disposed substantially horizontally in its working position and secured to one of its ends, which is free, and which further comprises a pivot head with a mounting means on its other end for insertion of the log-carrier in the complementary mounting means of the bracket rigidly secured to the boat. The mounting means of the pivot head comprises an engaging medium disposed on two parallel faces of the pivot head, while the mounting means in the bracket consists at least of two oppositely formed engaging media provided on corresponding substantially parallel faces of the bracket. The engaging media in the bracket are arrangedin such manner that they cross in a joint crossing point.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a holding-device for logs, particularly propeller-logs, wherein the engaging medium in the pivot head comprises a pair of web-like projections disposed axially oppositely each other on the parallel faces of the pivot head, which thus consists of ribs, which have a limited length. The engaging media in the bracket, fitted to this pair of ribs, are then at least two pairs of axially, oppositely disposed grooves limited in their lengths and angularly set-oil to each other and which cross each other either in form of an X or in form or" a star. In order to insert the logcarrier with its pivot head into the bracket which is rigidly secured to the boat, one of the pairs of the grooves extends upwardly to the edge of the bracket, to run out freely. The bracket forms a U-shape, the bottom of the U-shape being secured to the wall of the boat body in such manner that the faces of the leg portions extend in vertical direction. The leg portions surround the pivot head and are formed resiliently, so that the pivot head of the logcarrier is clamped between the substantially parallel inner faces of the leg portions of the bracket by means of the engaging media and is retained therein. The pair of grooves provided in the bracket which is inclined upwardly towards the boat body is extended up to the upper edge of the leg of the bracket. The log-carrier is insorted into this pair of inclined grooves of the bracket by means of the ribs of the pivot head and is pushed downwardly, and then the bearing portion of the logcarrier with the log-propeller is turned into its horizontal working position. During this rotation it is necessary to overcome the spring force of the leg portions of the bracket, until the rib-shaped engaging media of the pivot head are set into the pair of grooves which corresponds with the working position and which forms a locking connection with the bracket.

For the exact adjustment of the working position, namely, the correct angle of trim, the rib-shaped engaging media of the pivot head are disposed on the front faces of a circular disc or sleeve, which has the same length as the pivot head and is rotatably mounted therein. The desired angular position is secured by means of a clamping or any suitable setting means. In order to mark the angular position, an indicator marker may be provided on the pivot head, and a scale may be provided on the bracket or the arrangement may be reversed.

In order to secure the correct inclined position of the log-carrier, it is of advantage to provide resilient axle pins of the pivot head in such manner that two balls, disposed resiliently in axle direction, are provided in the pivot axis of the pivot head. Corresponding recesses for receiving these ball pins are provided in the bracket at the crossing point of the pairs of grooves.

With these and other objects in view, which Will become apparent in the following detailed description, the present invention will be clearly understood in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURES 1-3 are side elevations of a boat showing three diiferent embodiments for securing the log to the body of the boat;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the log-carrier with the bracket secured to stern of the boat;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the log-carrier shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side view, partly in section, of the pivot head of the log-carrier with the bracket engaging means;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the pivot head shown in FIG. 6, partly in section;

FIG. 8 is a side View, partly in section, of the inner face of one leg of the bracket;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view, partly in section, of the rotatable engaging medium of the pivot head having a resilient axle;

G. 10 is a side view of the rotatable engaging medium shown in FIG. 9; and

F G 11 is a side view of the engaging means of the brac et with the resilient axle of the pivot head.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, a body 1 of the boat is disclosed which carries Ireleasably a log-carrier 2 by means of a bracket 3 which "is secured to the body 1 of the boat. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the log is disposed at the stern of the boat. The log-propeller 4 is mounted on the free, horizontal end of the log-carrier 2, the rotation of the logpropeller 4 being transmitted to the indicating instrument 6 by means of a flexible shaft '5, which is guided through the log-carrier 2..

Referring now again to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 2, a second embodiment is disclosed to provide the log on the boat. In this embodiment, the log is secured to the side of the body 1 of the boat. The logearrier 2 is extended to the edge of the boat by means 'of a rigid tube 7 and is inserted into the bracket 3', secured to the edge of the boat, by means of a pivot head.

Referring now again to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 3, a third embodiment is disclosed to provide the log on the boat. In this embodiment the bracket 3 and the log-carrier 2 are arranged at the side of, yet below the body of the boat 1, the log-propeller 4 being again mounted at the free, horizontal end of the log-carrier 2 in a manner, similar to that shown in FIG. 1.

A flexible shaft is guided again through the log-carrier 2 and extends through the side-wall of the body 1 of the boat to the control instrument 6 which is mounted on the dash-board (not shown).

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings, the specific structure of the log-carrier is disclosed in greater detail, which log-carrier is secured, as set forth above, to the body 1 of the boat.

The log-carrier 2, which consists substantially 'of a tube, the free end of which extends into the water, carries the log-propeller 4 and serves the purpose to guide the flexible shaft 5 which is rigidly secured to the propeller 4. The underwater portion of the log-carrier 2 is streamlined in order to reduce the resistance exerted thereon against movement, as indicated in FIG. 4 by the preferable cross-section 8. A pivot head 9 is disposed at the other end of the log-carrier 2, a length of piping '7 extending from the pivot head 9, and a cover hose (not shown) for the shaft 5 being mounted on and secured to the piping 7. The pivot head 9 has two vertically disposed, parallel faces 10 which are disposed opposite to and between the legs of the bracket 3 secured to the wall of the boat. A limited, rib-shaped engaging member 11 projects frm each of the two faces 10 of the pivot head 9, which engaging members 11 cooperate with corresponding groove-shaped engagement means 12 provided in the inner faces of the legs of the bracket 3, the member 11 and the means 12 constituting jointly the holding device in accordance with the present invention, the particular function of which still more clearly described below in connection with FIGS. 6, 7 and 8.

Referring now to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, a pivot head 9' is disclosed, which for instance, is designed for the embodiment disclosed in FIG. 2 of the drawings and which pivot head 9' is adjustably secured to an extension of the length of piping 7, .in order to provide the possibility of changing the depth of the position of the log-propeller 4. The pivot head 9 is secured to the length of piping '7 by means of .a set screw 13.

The engaging medium on the pivot head 9', namely the axially oppositely disposed pair or ribs 11, is rigidly disposed in a predetermined position on the pivot head 9' relative to the axle x of the log-carrier 2 and of the length of piping 7, respectively. The engaging means on the inner faces of the legs of the U-shaped bracket 3, comprises at least two limited pairs of grooves 12 and 12, which cross each other starlike in the embodiment shown with two pairs of grooves only, X-like, at one point and one of the pairs of grooves, and in particular the one which is most inclined to the wall of the boat 1, extends on one side upwardly freely up to the edge of one leg of the bracket 3.

The insertion of the log-carrier 2 into the bracket 3 takes place in the following manner:

The log-carrier 2 with the pivot head 91 is brought into .a position angularly set-off in clockwise direction above the bracket 3, which position is indicated in FIG. 4 by the center line X of the log-carrier 2, so that the pair of ribs 11 can be inserted into the open end of the pair of grooves 12 in the direction of the arrow A (FIG. 4) and, thereby, the pivot head 9 can enter between the legs of the bracket 3 until the position marked as X of the center line is reached. Then the log-carrier 2 is turned counter-clockwise in the direction of the arrow B (FIG. 6) about the angle a, until the ribs 11 enter the pair of grooves 12 which are limited on both ends, whereby the cCBIllCI line of the log-carrier 2 assumes the working position x. During this rotation, the pair of ribs 11 must be pressed over the crossing area 14 of the pair of grooves 12 and 12, whereby the legs of the bracket 3 yield resiliently. As particularly clearly shown in FIG. 8, the pair of grooves 12 is of lesser depth from the leg faces of the bracket 3, than the depth of the pair of grooves 12', so that the resilient force of the bracket 3 can clamp the engaging ribs 11 of the pivot head 9 and, thereby, the logcarrier 2 is rigidly retained in a locking position in the bracket 3.

The removal of the log takes place in opposite succeszsion, by turning the log-carrier 2 clockwise upwardly :about the angle or and by lifting the same from the bracket .3. If the log hits an obstacle, the log-carrier 2 is likewise turned upwardly by the impact and yields thereby to the obstacle, yet, remains on the bracket 3 in a pair of grooves 12. If the angle 0: is chosen somewhat larger and if a third pair of grooves is provided between a pair .of grooves 12, 12, which third pair of grooves is limited .at both ends, in the same manner as the pair of grooves 12, a locking yielding position can be obtained for the log-carrier 2.

In order to make possible adjustment of the position of the angle of trim of the log-propeller, thus, the correct horizontal position, the engagement ribs 11 are adjustably disposed on the pivot head 9. The ribs 11 are then disposed on a circular disc or sleeve 15 which is rotatably mounted in a circular opening of the pivot head and which can be secured against rotation by any suitable securing means, for instance, a set screw 16. The axis of the disc forms the pivot axis y (FIG. 5) of the pivot head and if the log-carrier 2 is mounted in the bracket 3, the crossing points of the star or X-shaped pair of grooves 12 and 12' are likewise disposed in the axis y. A pointer 17, rigidly secured to the pivot head 9, and a scale 18 provided on the bracket 3, serve the purpose to mark the correct position of the log-propeller 4.

In order to secure the position of the pivot axis y in the crossing point of the pairs of grooves 12 and 12' in the bracket 3, the pivot axis of the log-carrier 2 can be equipped with resilient axle spindles. A spring 19 is disposed in an axial bore of the disc 15 which spring 19 presses against two balls 24), which are retained in the disc 15 by means of flanges 21 provided in the disc 15, and in particular in the ribs 11 thereof, which flanges overlap somewhat the latter. A corresponding recess 22 is provided at the crossing point of the pairs of grooves 12 and 12' as mounting means for the balls 20. Upon insertion of the pivot head 9 into the bracket 3, the two 5 balls 2%) yield resiliently inwardly, in order to set in the right position of the pivot axis y in the recesses 22.

While I have disclosed several embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that these embodirnents are given by example only and not in a limiting sense, the scope of the present invention being determined by the object and the claims.

I claim:

1. A holding-device for a log, particularly a propellerlog, secured to a boat including a boat-body comprising a bracket rigidly secured to the body of said heat and having a top face, as well as lateral faces, a carrier pivotally mounted on said bracket, said carrier supporting said log and having opposite end faces parallel to said lateral faces, adjustable mounting means for releasably securing said carrier to said bracket, and said mounting means comprising ribs and complementary grooves disposed in said lateral faces and said end faces, respectively, said complementary grooves comprising a first groove open at one end and a second groove closed at both ends, so that in one position of said mounting means, a rigid, nonreleasable locking connection between said carrier and said bracket and, upon turning said carrier in another position of said mounting means, a sliding connection between said carrier and said bracket, permitting complete removal of said carrier from said bracket is obtained.

2. A holding-device for a log, particularly a propellerlog, secured to a boat including a boat-body, comprising a bracket rigidly secured to the body of said boat and having a top face, a carrier pivotally mounted on said bracket, said carrier supporting said log, adjustable mount ing means for releasably securing said carrier to said bracket, and said mounting means including means providing, in one position of said mounting means, a rigid, non-releasable locking connection between said carrier and said bracket and, in another position of said mounting means, a sliding connection between said carrier and said bracket, permitting complete removal of said carrier from said bracket, said log including a log-propeller, and said carrier comprising a bearing portion for said logpropeller at its free end, said bearing portion being substantially horizontal in its working position, and a pivot head including said mounting means of said carrier for insertion of said carrier into corresponding of said mounting means of said bracket, said pivot head having two parallel disposed outer faces, and said mounting means of said pivot head comprising an engagement member formed on said outer faces, said bracket having parallel faces corresponding with said outer faces of said pivot head and said mounting means of said bracket comprising at least two oppositely formed engagement means on said parallel faces of said bracket complementary to said engagement members and said oppositely formed engagement means cross each other in a common crossing point.

3. The device, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said engagement members of said pivot head comprises weblike projections disposed axially oppositely each other on said parallel faces of said pivot head, and said complementary engagement means of said bracket comprise axially, oppositely disposed pairs of grooves, the latter crossing each other in starlike form.

4. The device, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said pivot head has two spring-biased balls at the ends of its pivoting axis, said balls extend beyond said web-like projections of said pivot head and said crossing point of said pair of grooves in said opposite faces of the leg portions of said bracket has corresponding recesses to receive said balls.

5. The device, as set forth in claim 3, wherein one of said pairs of grooves is extended towards the edge of said top face of said bracket.

6. The device, as set forth in claim 3, which includes a circular disc set rotatably in a circular opening of said pivot head, said disc carrying said web-like projections, and means for securing said disc in any one of rotatably displaced positions in said pivot head.

7. The device, as set forth in claim 6, wherein one of said brackets and said pivot head has a pointer and the other of said bracket and said pivot head has a scale disposed opposite said pointer, in order to set said engagement means into predetermined angular positions.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,869,974 8/32 Masters 73-182 3,003,354 10/61 Wood 73187 3,082,623 3/63 Bosland 73-182 3,084,543 4/63 Finkl 73182 ISAAC LISANN, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT L. EVANS, Examiner. 

1. A HOLDING-DEVICE FOR A LOG, PARTICULARLY A PROPELLERLOG, SECURED TO A BOAT INCLUDING A BOAT-BODY COMPRISING A BRACKET RIGIDLY SECURED TO THE BODY OF SAID BOAT AND HAVING A TOP FACE, AS WELL AS LATERAL FACES, A CARRIER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID BRACKET, SAID CARRIER SUPPORTING SAID LOG AND HAVING OPPOSITE END FACES PARALLEL TO SAID LATERAL FACES, ADJUSTABLE MOUNTING MEANS FOR RELEASABLY SECURING SAID CARRIER TO SAID BRACKET, AND SAID MOUNTING MEANS COMPRISING RIBS AND COMPLEMENTARY GROOVES DISPOSED IN SAID LATERAL FACES AND SAID END FACES, RESPECTIVELY, SAID COMPLENTARY GROOVES COMPRISING A FIRST GROOVE OPEN AT ONE END AND A SECOND GROOVE CLOSED AT BOTH ENDS, SO THAT IN ONE POSITION OF SAID MOUNTING MEANS, A RIGID, NONRELEASABLE LOCKING CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID CARRIER AND SAID BRACKET AND, UPON TURNING SAID CARRIER IN ANOTHER POSITION OF SAID MOUNTING MEANS, A SLIDING CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID CARRIER AND SAID BRACKET, PERMITTING COMPLETE REMOVAL OF SAID CARRIER FROM SAID BRACKET IS OBTAINED. 